Dubai: Kayaking in the Abu Dhabi Mangroves

The United Arab Emirates is one of few places where one can find a forest of mangroves, strange trees that thrive in saltwater and look similar to the Whomping Willow. The lanes between these trees are filled with roots around half a meter high sticking straight up like the teeth on a comb. They’re often submerged in water, but provide a barrier against coastal erosion. Many tiny crabs run around the mangroves or cling to their bark, demonstrating how the mangroves support an exotic ecosystem.

We kayaked through the mangroves in Abu Dhabi. At some points, I used my hands instead of the paddle to row as it was very tricky to manoeuvre without crashing into the trees!